In mourning’s embrace, a spirit’s rebirth…

In the darkest hour,

where shadows loom,

Faith’s ember flickers,

dispelling gloom.

A journey through the night,

guided by belief,

Grief and faith entwined,

offering relief.

The heartache’s dance,

a solemn waltz,

Yet faith persists,

its melody exalts.

With each teardrop,

a prayer takes flight,

Uniting grief and faith

in the quiet of night.

– denise marie

A family member passed away this past week….

Grief is complex, with many highs and lows, the waves of emotions tend to hit me as uncontrollable tears flow. As a believer, I know she is in heaven, no longer in pain and at peace. Yet, I still feel such a loss, a void. a sadness that I think she never really would’ve imagined how much her passing would affect me.

Her light, unconditional love, words of encouragement and friendship, will leave a lasting mark on my heart forever. Thank you for being such a gift.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4.

Slow down…and listen to the beat of your own heart…

My soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him. – Psalm 62:5

2022_11_.m4a

It’s beautiful to be still in

the midst of a busy world,

allowing my mind

to slow down

just enough to

process each thought,

minute by minute

inhaling fully then

exhaling slowly

listening to the beat

of my own heart,

lulling me with peace.

—denise marie

*picture of me taken in Washington State.

Self-care Muse…

A beautiful creek nestled between tall trees in Tacoma Washington, it was truly majestic.

In the realm of self-care, I find my retreat, a sanctuary where my soul finds its beat.

A gentle reminder to tend to my needs, to nourish my spirit, to let it be freed.

I start with a moment, a pause in my day, to breathe in the calm, let worries drift away.

Inhaling the peace, exhaling the stress, creating space for my mind to find rest.

I listen to my body, its whispers and cues, honoring its limits, refusing to abuse.

I nourish with kindness, with wholesome delight, feeding it with love, each day and each night.

I bathe in self-love, a warm, soothing embrace, letting go of judgment, accepting my grace.

With sunlight aglow, casting a soft, gentle light, I surrender to stillness, embracing with such delight.

I move with intention, in rhythm and flow, dancing away worries, letting my spirit grow.

Expressing my emotions through graceful motion, releasing the tension, embracing the notion.

I seek solace in nature, its beauty and peace, walking in forests, where worries find release.

The whispering trees, the song of the birds, nature’s healing power, beyond any words.

I indulge in moments of pure, simple pleasure, reading a book, savoring each word and measure.

Escaping reality, entering new realms, where imagination soars and the heart overwhelms.

I surround myself with love, with cherished souls, creating connections that make me feel whole.

Sharing laughter and tears, in moments so rare, knowing that love is the ultimate self-care.

Self-care is a journey, a lifelong embrace, a commitment to oneself, a sacred space.

For in nurturing my soul, I find the key, to unlock the door to a life that’s carefree.

– denise marie

Engulfed fully by his love…

It took me a minute to settle down and calm my anxiety, but once I did my words flowed.

Writing and reading my poetry is good for my soul.

Titled, “Engulfed fully by his love”. – denise marie

“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

po·et·ry…

Today..
I encourage you
to bravely,
peel back,
each layer,
revealing
the deep roots
of secrets that
have been gracefully
hidden.

In this place,
is where YOU have
remained concealed
beneath the pain
of your untold stories.

Surrender…

and allow
Gods love
and grace
to heal this
sacred space
in which you’ve
kept sealed.

– denise marie

Writing Poetry is truly one of my passions, it feels amazing to release words that at times have been hidden beneath insecurities, allowing my creativity to flow, sure does bring me joy.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved writing, reading and listening to poetry. It was a common occurrence to see me with a pen and pad of paper jotting down my thoughts and eagerly reading them to my Mom. Looking through boxes in the storage closet, it’s fun to find journals filled with poems I’ve written as a child or teen. Recently I was looking through my yearbooks from high school and to my surprise (1987 was a long time ago.. lol! I had forgotten about this) I saw a poem I had written my Senior year in the yearbook.

Maya Angelou is one of my favorite’s, I have several of her books. This portrait of her, sits near my keyboard.

Maya Angelou has always been an inspiration and I hope to one day publish my own book of poetry.

“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

What would YOU say to your younger self?

What I would say to my younger self…

You have the gift to

powerfully shine light

on darkness,

to set captives free

by the stroke of your

own pen.

– denise marie

No matter the circumstances of your past or what you may be currently facing, God says that he is able to use your gifts, your voice, your words, your life….to encourage others and give them hope.

I want to encourage YOU to show up in whatever space you are in and be your true authentic self, allowing your presence to make a difference in this world!

“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

Her own crown of beauty…

I wanted to share with you my poem titled “her own crown of beauty”. My prayer is that you no longer hide or shrink, but are comfortable in your own skin, accepting your own crown of beauty.💗

– denise marie

“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

Words of love…

I am learning that it is ok to take a deep breath,
and then slowly exhale as I gently smile at the
woman that I’m looking at in the mirror.

I’m encouraging her with words of love,
self acceptance and much grace.

– denise marie

It’s ok to get out of your comfort zone…

I decided to get out of my comfort zone and nervously read one of my poems in front of the camera.

Speaking in public or in front of a camera, causes me some anxiety and I normally find myself completely overthinking, being self-critical and sometimes talking myself out of it.

But not tonight.

I sat in my living room, didn’t fuss with the perfect application of makeup or the correct lighting. I just went for it….and because I did, it was a huge breakthrough for me!

You see, after surviving the pulmonary embolism, I struggled with the affects in my mind, emotions, and body. My brain seemed to be a bit different, very foggy, easily overwhelmed/overstimulated and anxiety. I struggled and sometimes still struggle with terrible fatigue, hair loss and extra weight gain. These things had began to mess with my confidence and I found myself beginning to hide a bit and shrink back from doing things that I used to do much easier in the past.

Being in my 50’s and a survivor of…well an overcomer of so many different challenges in my life, (past childhood trauma, stress etc.) I realize that it’s ok to not always be ok, but it’s not ok to be stuck in my circumstances. Taking things one day at a time, allows me to remove unrealistic expectations and letting go of my own pressure of perfectionism, the need to please others and making space for plenty of love and grace. Healing is a process and I am choosing to be present, every step of the way.

My hope is that I continue to show up and do things that make me uncomfortable.

This not so simple act of getting out of my own head, and doing things even if I am afraid or nervous is truly liberating.

Thanks for sharing this moment with me, it means a lot!

– denise marie

“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36

Prayer…Gratitude and the California Coast.

Standing here, on the California Coast in complete gratitude for all he has done.

When anxiety heightens,

and worry tries to consume me.

In these moments I cry out to God and I’m quickly reminded of his promises.

He said he will never leave me or forsake me, my strong tower where I can find safety.

My rock, my refuge, my fortress and my hope.

His love protects me, surrounds me and never fails me.

This is where I find my peace and place my trust in him.

– denise marie

“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36